And set you at your threshold down, Heres how Coffin explained how he managed to write and deliver this eulogy so soon after his sons death (from an interview with Bill Moyers): COFFIN: Well. If a week ago last Monday, a lamp went out, it was because, for him at least, the Dawn had come. William Sloane Coffin May God give you the grace never to sell yourself short; Grace to risk something big for something good; and Grace to remember the world is now too dangerous for anything but the truth and too small for anything but love. Q: Why do you think that is, in the country as a whole? The prayers are presented in several multi-year collections. After the tsunami, some Moslem clerics said it was god's punishment for their sins. Q: What should we be mindful of when we make defense policy? I swear to you, I wouldnt be standing here were I not upheld. And [a lot of people] think that emotional mediocrity is the good life. Until one has personally experienced the loss of a loved one, one can not understand the feelings about the death both positive and negative. And thats what hundreds of you understood so beautifully. And of course I know, even when pain is deep, that God is good. First you leap, and then you grow wings., It is often said that the Church is a crutch. He attended Deerfield Academy and Phillips Academy Andover before beginning his studies at Yale University in 1942. Cars skid out of control on icy roads, healthy cells are consumed by cancerous ones. Among the healing flood of letters that followed his death was one carrying this wonderful quote from the end of Hemingway's "A Farewell to Arms": "The world breaks everyone, then some become strong at the broken places.". Because there are no rankling unanswered questions, and because Alex and I simply adored each other, the wound for me is deep, but clean. Which is not to say that there are no nature-caused deaths I can think of many right here in this parish in the five years I've been here deaths that are untimely and slow and pain-ridden, which for that reason raise unanswerable questions, and even the specter of a Cosmic Sadist yes, even an Eternal Vivisector. Did you perhaps mistake me for someone else?? Last week my senior minister shared with me a sermon dated January 23, 1983 (Palm Sunday) written by William Sloane Coffin. Ralph Nader: With the majority of Americans in poll after poll turning against the U.S. war and occupation in Iraq and with many retired Generals, diplomats and intelligence officials opposed to the invasion in the first instance why is the organized opposition not greater? __________________ As almost all of you know, a week ago last Monday night, driving in a terrible storm, my son Alexander who to his friends was a real day-brightener, and to his family fair as a star when only one is shining in the sky my twenty-four-year-old Alexander, who enjoyed beating his old man at every game and in every race, beat his father to the grave. You blew it. The one thing that should never be said when someone dies is It is the will of God. Never do we know enough to say that. I also know this day-brightener of a son wouldnt wish to be held close by grief (nor, for that matter, would any but the meanest of our beloved departed) and that, interestingly enough, when I mourn Alex least I see him best. Contributions to support this project can always be made through PayPal (david@davidcoffin.com). Kate Braestrups book is beautiful, and I highly recommend it to all who are seeking answers. We have to be forced down. Nationalism at the expense of another nation, is just as wicked as racism at the expense of another race. As the . So I shall so let us all seek consolation in that love which never dies, and find peace in the dazzling grace that always is. It withers quicker than the rose. He liked it here. I agree about the need for silence regarding those grieving. So set, before its echoes fade, Unfortunately he left the building April 12th, 2006. And I played all the hymns. And Christ spent an inordinate amount of time delivering people from paralysis, insanity, leprosy, and muteness. What can be done to turn this public support into organized opposition? Bill Coffin was such a man. William Sloane Coffin Jr. was an American Christian clergyman and long-time peace activist. William Sloane Coffin, a former Yale University chaplain known for his anti-war and peace activism, dies at the age of 81. RN: Any comparisons between the domestic opposition to the Iraq War/Occupation with the domestic opposition to the Vietnam War? William Sloane Coffin, Jr., (born June 1, 1924, New York, New York, U.S.died April 12, 2006, Strafford, Vermont, U.S.), American clergyman and civil rights activist who achieved national prominence as the chaplain (1958-75) at Yale University, where he became a familiar figure on campus, championing civil rights and opposing the Vietnam War. A fragment of what you felt, of what you knew, William Sloane Coffin Jr. (June 1, 1924 - April 12, 2006) was an American Christian clergyman and long-time peace activist. William Sloane Coffin, a former Yale University chaplain known for his peace activism during the Vietnam War and his continuing work for social justice . While the words of the Bible are true, grief renders them unreal. Crowned with lilies and Laurel they go; but I am not resigned. T he Rev. Wind your head in John!! William Sloane Coffin Jr. preached these Sunday sermons from the pulpit of the Riverside Church in New York City. This is the second year of the complete ten year collection of sermons. And silence sounds no worse than cheers 15 Another consolation, of course, will be the learning which better be good, given the price. The fleet foot on the sill of shade, Different cultures have different views of death. This website is the home of the William Sloane Coffin Sermon Archive Project. As his younger brother put it simply, standing at the head of the casket at the Boston funeral, "You blew it, buddy. Less sceptical commentators may point to mechanical -- and possibly human -- failure on a notoriously dangerous road. When a person dies, there are many things that can be said, and there is at least one thing that should never be said. William Sloane Coffin also wrote about this in his eulogy for his son, Alex, who was killed in a car accident at age 24. He was ordained in the Presbyterian Church, and later received ministerial standing in the United Church of Christ. But you seem to be able to deal with these problems in a way that recalls some deep confidence. I swear to you, I wouldn't be standing here were I not upheld. January 6, 1968 Spock and Coffin Indicted For Activity Against Draft By FRED P. GRAHAM . The one thing that should never be said when someone dies is "It is the will of God." The night after Alex died I was sitting in the living room of my sister's house outside of Boston, when the front door opened and in came a nice-looking, middle-aged woman, carrying about eighteen quiches. ashington, Jan. 5--Five men, including Dr. Benjamin Spock, the author and pediatrician, and the Rev. Because there are no rankling unanswered questions, and because Alex and I simply adored each other, the wound for me is deep, but clean. Will was tyring to elicit thoughts about the whole concept of a god's will. By a departing light So I shall so let us all seek consolation in that love which never dies, and find peace in the dazzling grace that always is. If a week ago last Monday, a lamp went out, it was because, for him at least, the Dawn had come. Q: Your faith and the nature of God and God's love -- what is the bedrock there for you? What an interesting article William Q: You preached that wonderful sermon after your son's death, and there were some ideas in there about what is "God's will.". My own consolation lies in knowing that it was not the will of God that Alex die; that when the waves closed over the sinking car, Gods heart was the first of all our hearts to break. It is self-interest. He was 81. . The woman most in need of liberation is the woman in every man and the man in every woman. All rights reserved. First you leap, and then you grow wings." --- William Sloane Coffin. From fields where glory does not stay, 10 @art-of-manliness / art-of-manliness.tumblr.com, Editors note: Ten days after his son, Alex, drove off a bridgeand was killed in a car accident, Reverend William Sloane Coffin delivered the following sermon to his congregation at Riverside Church in New York City. So he has a hand in making our lives better but not worse? My own broken heart is mending, and largely thanks to so many of you, my dear parishioners; for if in the last week I have relearned one lesson, it is that love not only begets love, it transmits strength. The reality of grief is the absence of God My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? The reality of grief is the solitude of pain, the feeling that your heart is in pieces, your minds a blank, that there is no joy the world can give like that it takes away. (Lord Byron). The night after Alex died I was sitting in the living room of my sisters house outside of Boston, when the front door opened and in came a nice-looking, middle-aged woman, carrying about eighteen quiches. So it is, and so it will be, for so it has been, time out of mind. So why the grief, self pity? As almost all of you know, a week ago last Monday night, driving in a terrible storm, my son Alexander who to his friends was a real day-brightener, and to his family fair as a star when only one is shining in the sky my twenty-four-year-old Alexander, who enjoyed beating his old man at every game and in every race, beat his father to the grave. It is self-interest. The world is too dangerous for anything but truth and too small for anything but love. May God give you the grace never to sell yourself short; Grace to risk something big for something good; And grace to remember the world is now too dangerous for anything but the truth and too small for anything but love. I went right away to the piano. This is the tenth year of the complete 10 year collection of sermons. Houseman, To an Athlete Dying Young. And I wept and I wept. Some of the very best, and easily the worst, knew their Bibles better than the human condition. And round that early-laurelled head 25 So I shall so let us all seek consolation in that love which never dies, and find peace in the dazzling grace that always is. "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" "The world is too dangerous for anything but truth and too small for anything but love." --- William Sloane Coffin. The Theology of William Sloane Coffin. But the things I learned from her RN: What do you think the churches and the National Council of Churches should be doing that they are not now doing regarding the war-occupation? "A spiritual person tries less to be godly than to be deeply . Q: As you look back on everything you've done in your wonderful life, what are you most proud of? That is what makes the valley of the shadow of death seem so incredibly dark and unending. William Sloane Coffin's Eulogy for Alex Ten days after his son, Alex, was killed in a car accident, Reverend William Sloane Coffin delivered this sermon to his congregation at Riverside Church in New York City. Actually, its even more worth a listen; its considerably more powerful inthe oral form in which it was delivered, and the audio can be accessed here. History The company was founded as a rug importer and seller on March 2, 1843 by William Sloane who had just emigrated from Kilmarnock, Scotland, a town famous for weaving fine carpets and rugs. And finally I know that when Alex beat me to the grave, the finish line was not Boston Harbor in the middle of the night. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Yes, but at least, My God, my God; and the psalm only begins that way, it doesnt end that way. I feel scorched by how much he insists on truthfulness in grief. Among the healing flood of letters that followed his death was one carrying this wonderful quote from the end of Hemingways A Farewell to Arms: The world breaks everyone, then some become strong at the broken places. My own broken heart is mending, and largely thanks to so many of you, my dear parishioners; for if in the last week I have relearned one lesson, it is that love not only begets love, it transmits strength. William Sloane Coffin Jr. preached these Sunday sermons from the pulpit of the Riverside Church in New York City. Well, that really is selfish and here I thought some believers like Christians are supposed to be charitable. When parents die, as my mother did last month, they take with them a large portion of the past. And read the poems. "William Sloane Coffin offers here a powerful antidote to the politics of the religious right with a clarion call to passive intellectuals and dispirited liberals to reenter the fray with an unabashedly Christian view of social justice. In your prayer life do you tend to direct your prayer life to Jesus or God? Robert Browning Hamilton. Listen to an interview with Rev. We chaired you through the market-place; Coffin on defense issues from the Center for Defense Information; Read Coffin's eulogy for his son Alex; Relive the past with Rev. For some reason, nothing so infuriates me as the incapacity of seemingly intelligent people to get it through their heads that God doesnt go around this world with his fingers on triggers, his fists around knives, his hands on steering wheels. The fact you find that puzzling makes me glad not to be in your family! Q: What's the essential connection for you between religious faith and justice? We have to be forced down. William Sloane Coffin challenged the nation with his passionate calls for social justice. By a departing light We see acuter quite Than by a wick that stays. That's the puzzlement of it all. So while trite, its true: I walked a mile with Pleasure, She chattered all the way; But left me none the wiser For all she had to say. Yes, but at least, "My God, my God"; and the psalm only begins that way, it doesn't end that way. These days, campuses are very concerned with religious pluralism. Elegant and curled In a prideful way it would be easier to walk the valley alone, nobly, head high, instead of as we must marching as the latest recruit in the worlds army of the bereaved. Ill say you dont, lady! I said. Jim Antal, a Norwich resident who advises the president of the national United Church of Christ on climate change, will deliver the inaugural William Sloane . John Wright #5 The document has moved here. Only reverance can restrain violence - reverance for human life and the environment.". In the fascinating documentary movie Mondo Cane' which was released in 1962, among the strange and seemingly depraved (to Western eyes) behavior is one segment about old people in China who wait around in the upper floor of a house to die while their families are downstairs at a party celebrating their deaths. I was first introduced to this sermon years agoin a college communications course, and I have thought of it with surprising regularityever since. I walked a mile with Sorrow Click the cart icon next to a prayer in the player below to add a prayer to your cart. But the point is this. But oh, the things I learned from her Itsjust one of those things I think is worth a read by all. 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